What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wantingly
Example
She looked at the cake wantingly, but knew she couldn't have any. [wantingly: adverb]
Example
He spoke wantingly of his childhood home, which he had not visited in years. [wanting: present participle]
longingly
Example
She gazed longingly at the old photo album, reminiscing about her youth. [longingly: adverb]
Example
He longed longingly for the days when he could travel freely without restrictions. [longing: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Longingly is more commonly used than wantingly in everyday language. Longingly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while wantingly is less common and may be considered more informal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wantingly and longingly?
While longingly can be used in both formal and informal contexts, wantingly is typically associated with a casual and informal tone.
